Connecting to Collections Care

Hello,

I am currently researching best practices for rehousing a large (several feet across) charred wooden architectural object. It was removed from a building that was struck by lightning in the past when the building was renovated and is now in our collection. This large piece has been cleaned to museum standards but needs to be cataloged and stored. I have researched best practices for caring for large, charred objects, but most resources are either for large objects OR for recently burned objects salvaged from fires. This object is both large and the charring happened years ago. Might anyone in the group have experience with best practices for an object of this type? For example, what materials can be in contact with the charred portions, if any?

Thank you in advance,

DL

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Danielle LaRose
Museum Technician
National Park Service
Washington
United States
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Hi Danielle,

As you write, oversize and burnt are each challenges for rehousing. Both together are doubly so! It would be helpful to know if the charring is even across the surface or if there are areas that are less affected and more structurally stable. Ideally it would be great to be able to support the piece adequately while minimizing surface contact with charred surfaces but that may not be possible if it was extensively burned. At first guess I would be inclined to look at the slick side of soft Tyvek wrap or Teflon (PTFE) "Relic Wrap" 

There are some other materials that might be useful listed on this page https://spnhc.org/rehousing-materials/ excerpted from the rehousing chapter in the AIC/SPNHC Preventive Conservation Collection Storage book.  

Are you able to share a picture with the group? That might facilitate some additional brainstorming.

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Rachael Arenstein
A.M. Art Conservation, LLC
rachael@amartconservation.com
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